Electrically controlled valve means



Oct. 23, 1951 R. P. HOBSON ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED VALVE MEANS Filed Dec. 4, 1948 kmw INVENTOR. Richard P Hobson W2! 4% At -0 r'ne y fatented Oct. 23, 1951 TED S T-ATES EN T O F Fl CE 2572351 I "ELECTRICALIZ? coNTRoLfiitn VALVE MEANS Richard 'P. Hobson, Longviewi' lex' assignormto The Atlantic Refining Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania 7 ixp uetitnneemter 4, 143,"s*eria1Noisaiss 4 Claims. Thisinvention'relates to a system for control- 'l'ihg' -fiuidfiow' in pipes and moreparticularly relates to a 'system for automatically, selectively fldwingproduction from avsiell through flbw'pipes 'a' seri'es offtanks.

sthe usual pr actice to flow the production "from -a well or wells through a flow pip'e' system t'o'f a separator, wherein the production is stabi- --l iae d-, and"-thence, to one or more of the "tanks up-ata'nk battery. The pipe system is "-prdvi'dedwith necessary controlvalves for divert- "in'g the fiow'of pr'oduction to any one or more "(if the "tanks.

"Heretofore ithas been necessary to make fre- "duent; checkson'suchoperations and, when it is jdeteiinified that the-fluid in one of the tanks nasracheua desired -level, to operate manually the appropriate 'Valves'to direct flow of production intoa'n'empty o'r"partially empty tank. Since the fiiiidjstiir'ed in the tanks is Withdrawn at irregular interva'lsandin vary-ing'quantities, it has -beennecess'aryalso to have available current information on the amount of fluid in each of the tank's so that the'flow of production can be diverte'dinto anempty 'tank'when'one' of the tanks becomes'filled. This information has been obtained in the past by making frequent measure- "ments of'the height "of the liquid in'each of the tanks. "Obviously, such a system requires close surveillance of the operation to avoid overflow 'of the tanks. Further, considerable time is expended in determining the fluid levels in the various tanks, "and in operating manually the 'flow'valves' as necessary. v

Accordingly, one 'ob'ject of this invention is to provide a system for automatically and'selectively "flowing production from a well Or 'wells into a series'of tanks.

Ar'ro'ther object is to provide such "a system whereby "the flow of "production will be diverted ifombnetank into another empty tank when the fluid in the first tank reaches a'pr es'ele'cted level. I

'A 'further, object is to provide such asystem whereby all flow of production will be interrupted automatically upon all 'of the tanks "becoming filled.

'Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the drawing and description which follow. 7 I n k I Thejdrawing is a diagrammatic view, with the electrical circuits show-n schematically fof a tem constructed 'in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawing, numerals l and 2 2 1 d'enote' generally'wells, the production from which lis'cond'u'cted through a system of fiow pipes into "hiie-ormore of the tanks, such as, tanks '3 and 4, making up a tank battery. The system ofpipes includes now linesii and S which are connected to the well heads of wells l 'a'nd'Z, respectively. The other ends of lines 5 and B are connectedby hieans'of T coupling 1, for example, to flow line'8 whi'c11"cornmunicates at its other end with a 'conventi'onahseparatorg for separating from the "production entering thereinto undesirable, 'normally gaseous components. Flow line lll i's'connecte'd'to separator 9, and functions to conduct t e-seeemeed gas from separator 9 either "to a "suitable storage "or to a gas operated device, "neither er which is shown, as desired. A meter El my be provided in 11mm for measuring the quantity of gas passed from theseparator. Dump iine l2 is connected at one of its ends to the 's'tabilize'd production or liquid outlet of separator and'terminatesat its otherend in T coupling [3 are threaded, or otherwise secured, flow I M l'tfand 15 which terminate, preferably, in the-top foi and communicate with the interior of tanks -3'a'nd"i, respectively. H n n Lines 5, tad-f it, lfi and ['5 are provided, re- "away, with valves it, ll, [8, 9, 2t, and 3| for controlling the flow of fluid therein, the valves, preferably, being conventional magnetic gate valvestypical of 'suchdevices commonly used in t industry for controlling fluid now in pipes. magnetic gate valves are well known and in common use, a description of the construction operation thereof will be unnecessary other man topoint out that such valves are adapted "to teen and permit fluid flow therethrough upon th applicationthereto of a suitable energizing c t, and to return to their normally closed 'pos n upon interruption of the applied current. 49 fiegulatcrylaws of many States frequently permy limited production daily from certain 'irigzones, Further, in the case of 'thin foil nns it i'stheusual practice to flow periodical- "ly oil irbinawell communicating with the oil "zones frelatively small quantities to prevent f5 7) rineling of adjacent gas and water, or either, "as 'e ca se may be. In View of the 'above,it may 'ibfe d'e siralcile to employ automatic time switches '32 and 'for controlling the applicationof eniaing current to valves lfi and I1, respectively; Time'switches are conventional devices and comprise a switch and mechanism adapted to automatically and periodically close the switch electeld time intervals and for given times. 65It seen that by proper adjustment of time .has reached a preselected level.

switches 22 and 23 energizing current may be applied from a suitable source, not shown, to valves I6 and I1 through leads 24 and 25, respectively, whereby the valves will be caused to operate in a manner to permit flow of production therethrough from wells I and 2 in desired quantities and at selected time intervals. It is obvious that one of the wells may be permitted to flow while the other well is shut down.

It is the purpose of the invention to provide means for controlling automatically the operation of magnetic gate valves I8, I9, 28, and 2| in a manner so as to obtain selective flow of fluid from wells I and 2 into tanks 3 and 4. To this end there are provided in the wall and, preferably, adjacent the top of tanks 3 and 4, respectively, mercury float switches 26 and 21 which may be any onev of a number of such switches commonly employed for closing automatically an electric circuit when the fluid in a container, with which the switch is employed Float switch 26 is directly connected by lead 28, to solenoid 29, and in a similar manner float switch 21 is connected by lead 38 to solenoid 3|. Plungers 32 and 33 of solenoids 29 and 3|, respectively, are joined by mechanical linkage 34 through which operatively extends, as at 35, moving contact 36 of a solenoid operated relay, generally denoted by numeral 31, the construction and operation of the relay being described more fully hereinafter.

An alternating current source, not shown, may be employed for supplying actuating current to solenoid 29 connected in an electric circuit which to solenoid 3| connected in a similar electric circuit which is controlled by float switch 21 and includes terminals 38, lead 39, contacts 48 and 4|, solenoid 3|, lead 38, float switch 21, lead 41, circuit breaker 45, and lead 46.

In addition, the alternating current source supplies the energizing current for operating valves I8, I9, 28, and 2|. It is readily seen that an electric circuit exists from the alternating current source through contacts 48 and 4|, leads 48 and 49, valve I8, leads 58, 43, 44, and circuit breaker 45 back to the source. A similar circuit exists from the alternating current source i through valve I9, which circuit includes contacts 48 and 4|, leads 48 and 52, valve I9, leads 53, 5|, 43, and 44, circuit breaker 45 and lead 46.

With contacts 48 and 4| closed, current is supplied either to magnetic valve 28 or 2|, dependent upon the position of moving contact 36 of relay 31, which is controlled by solenoids 29 and 3|. When moving contact 36 is in engagement with contact 54 of relay 31, a circuit is completed from the alternating current source through relay 31, lead 55, valve 2|, leads 56, 51, and 44, and circuit breaker 45 back to the source. On the other hand, when moving contact 36 is in engagement with contact 58, an electric circuit is completed from the alternating current source through relay 31, lead 59, valve 28, leads 68, 51, and 44, and circuit breaker 45 back to the source.

Relay 42 is actuated by the application of current to coil 6| from the alternating current source provided across input terminals 38, the current flow being controlled by time switch 62 connected, as shown, between coil 6| and terminals 38. Time switch 62 preferably is identical with time switches 22 and 23 and may be set to operate at desired time intervals.

In operation, after the system has been assembled as shown in the drawing, time switches 22 and 23 are adjusted in a manner such that valves I6 and I1 operate at preselected times to permit desired quantities of production to flow therethrough from the associated wells. Then time switch 62 is adjusted so as to cause relay 42 to be actuated, and therefore, contacts 48 and 4| to be closed during the time that either valve I6 or I1 is open. It is understood that under these conditions when valves I6 and I1, or either, as the case may be, are open current will flow from the alternating current source through relay 42 to valves I8 and I9 whereby valves I8 and I9 also will be maintained open to permit fluid from wells I and 2 to flow through line 8 into separator 9, and the gas to flow from the separator through line I8 to a suitable storage.

The liquid from separator 9 flows through line I2 and thence either through line I4 into tank 3 or through line I5 into tank 4, depending upon the position of contact 36 of solenoid operated relay 31. Assuming that tank 3 is empty, or partially empty, and the liquid in tank 415 at a preselected level, float switch 21 will be closed completing an electric circuit through its associated solenoid 3| whereby the solenoid is actuated, causing plunger 33 to move thereinto, and mechanical linkage 34 to pull moving contact 36 into engagement with contact 58 of relay 31, as shown in the drawing. When in this position, current from the current source connected across terminals 38 will flow through relay 31,

contact 58, and lead 59 to magnetic valve 28 causing the valve to open, thereby permitting liquid from separator 9 to flow into tank 3.

When the liquid in tank 3 reaches a prede-- termined level, float switch 26 will operate completing a circuit through solenoid 29, thereby moving contact 36 into engagement with contact 54. This change in position of contact 36, interrupts current flow through valve 28 causing it to close, and also initiates current flow through valve 2| causing it to open thereby permitting liquid flow therethrough into tank 4.-

It is thus seen that as the liquid in one of the tanks reaches a predetermined level the liquid flow from separator 9 is automatically and selectively directed into another empty tank. It should be pointed out that circuit breaker 45 is adjusted in a manner such that if at any time both tanks are full, the simultaneous current flow through solenoids 29 and 3| will cause the circuit breaker to drop out, interrupting energizing current flow in valves I8, I9, 20, and 2| whereby all flow of liquid in the system is automatically stopped.

I claim:

1. In a system for automatically, selectively flowing fluid from a well into a series of tanks individually connected with the well by means of flow pipes, electrically operated valve means in each of the pipes for controlling flow of fluid therein, a first electrical circuit including a current source connected with the valve means for applying energizing current thereto, relay means provided in the first circuit for selectively controlling the application of electrical current to the valve means, switch means provided in each tank and responsive to changes in fluid level therein, a second electrical circuit for actuating the relay means and connected with the switch means in a manner so that the valve means controlling the flow of fluid into one of the tanks will be closed when the fluid level in that tank reaches a selected point, and circuit interrupting means connected in the second circuit for interrupting the application of energizing current to the valve means when all of the tanks are full.

2. In a system for automatically, selectively flowing fluid from a well into a series of tanks individually connected with the well by means of flow pipes, electrically operated valve means in each of the pipes for controlling flow of fluid therein, the valve means being normally closed, a first electrical circuit including a current source connected with the valve means for applying energizing current thereto, relay means provided in the first circuit for selectively controlling the application of electrical current to the valve means, switch means provided in each tank and responsive to changes in fluid level therein, a second electrical circuit for actuating the relay means and connected with the switch means in a manner so that the valve means controlling the flow of fluid into one of the tanks will be closed when the fluid level in that tank reaches a selected point, and circuit interrupting means connected in the second circuit for interrupting the application of energizing current to the valve means when all of the tanks are full.

3. In a system for automatically, selectively flowing fluid from a well into a series of tanks individually connected with the well by means of flow pipes, electrically operated valve means in each of the pipes for controlling flow of fluid therein, the valve means being normally closed, a first electrical circuit including a current source connected with the valve means for applying energizing current thereto, relay means provided in the first circuit for selectively controlling the application of electrical current to the valve means, switch means provided in each tank and responsive to changes in fluid level therein, a second electrical circuit for actuating the relay means and connected with the switch means in a manner so that the valve means controlling the flow of fluid into one of the tanks will be closed when the fluid level in that tank reaches a selected point, and circuit interrupting means connected in the second circuit for interrupting the application of energizing current to the valve means when all of the tanks are full, the second circuit including a plurality of solenoids, each of which is connected in series with one of the switch means and positioned in operative relationship with the relay means for actuating the latter when current flows through the solenoid, and a current source for independently supplying current to each combination of switch means and solenoid.

4. In a system for automatically, selectively flowing fluid from a well into a series of tanks individually connected with the well by means of flow pipes, electrically operated valve means in each of the pipes for controlling flow of fluid therein, the valve means being normally closed, a first electrical circuit including a current source connected with the valve means for applying energizing current thereto, relay means provided in the first circuit for selectively controlling the application of electrical current to the valve means, switch means provided in each tank and responsive to changes in fluid level therein, a second electrical circuit for actuating the relay means and connected with the switch means in a manner so that the Valve means controlling the flow of fluid into one of the tanks will be closed when the fluid level in that tank reaches a selected point, and circuit interrupting means connected in the second circuit for interrupting the application of energizing current to the valve means when all of the tanks are full, the second circuit including a plurality of solenoids, each of which is connected in series with one of the relay means and positioned-in operative relationship with the relay means for actuating the latter when current flows through the solenoid, and the combinations of switch means and solenoid being connected in parallel across the current source.

RICHARD P. HOBSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,068,635 Dunn July 29, 1913 1,529,585 Gameson Mar. 10, 1925 1,962,192 Hapgood June 12, 1934 2,340,070 McCauley Jan. 25, 1944 

